Klasnic hopeful after second kidney op

AFP - 8 April 2007 21:12

Croatian international forward Ivan Klasnic, pictured in 2006, said Sunday he was optimistic of returning to action with his club Werder Bremen after recently undergoing a second kidney transplant.

BREMEN, Germany (AFP) - Croatian international forward Ivan Klasnic said Sunday he was optimistic of returning to action with his club Werder Bremen after recently undergoing a second kidney transplant.

"I'm optimistic I will return to playing. For the moment everything is going fine, and I'm happy. The doctors are also happy," Klasnic said after his team's 1-0 Bundesliga victory over Nuremberg Sunday.

Klasnic, 27, underwent a second kidney transplant in mid-March after a first kidney transplant in January failed.

On Sunday Klasnic walked across the pitch before kick-off brandishing a banner on which he wrote a message to thank the club and its supporters for "believing in me".

Even before he had undergone his first transplant, the German club announced they would add a year on to his contract, which was supposed to expire at the end of this season.

The Croat has played at Werder Bremen since 2001, scoring 42 goals in a total of 135 matches.